These days as librarian emeritus, I’m really working on the new stuff, some of the digital data that’s out there,” Kubic said. “I’m trying to help create new things from old things. I find old stuff in print media or video tapes, capture it, digitize it, and make it available on the web.
When not working in the library, Kubic enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking with his wife, Donna. He does have one passion outside of his job that does involve books called book conservation.
“A conservator of books does restoration on old books,” Kubic said. “I’ve done a couple of things here for Southwestern. It is tedious, but it’s kind of cool to do that kind of thing and you get to see what a book really looks like and how it’s held together.”
Jill Botticelli Cabal, director of libraries and archivist at Southwestern Seminary and instructor of history at Texas Baptist College, said that Kubic has been dedicated “to excellent student service” since returning to Southwestern in 2015.
“We appreciate Dr. Kubic’s consistent work in providing students with exceptional resources, his resourcefulness in accomplishing challenging tasks, and the thoughtful manner in which he contributes to the mission of Southwestern Seminary libraries,” Cabal said.
He and his wife currently attend Citylight Fort Worth, a church formerly known as Connell Baptist Church. Kubic’s wife recently retired as the student minister from Richland Hills Baptist Church and he said they are finding their roles in the new church.
Kubic began his time as a librarian when digitizing was not an option for books, videos, and other tapes, but he is enjoying the ability to change with the advances in technology.
“When I think about my 45 years in libraries, I started out with the Dewey decimal system and typing cards where I would use a card to make sure I didn’t get the margins wrong,” Kubic recalled. “Now, I’m converting electronic information and adding metadata for searches that help Christians worldwide. It’s mind-blowing to me that I am able to do that from my little office here.”
He also assists in classrooms, specifically in Doctor of Philosophy seminars, where he helps students understand the best way to do research with the data available.
“I help mostly by coming into particular classes and teach more or less as an auxiliary person and teach our students about specific practices in education and research,” Kubic said.
One student who has been impacted by Kubic’s service, is Heine Law, a Master of Arts in church music student from Houston, Texas. Law said that Kubic has shown kindness and patience while he worked under him as the digital resource assistant until 2022.
“I would say that while I was working for him, Dr. Kubic was very patient with me as he taught me how to digitalize media,” Law said. “He is very knowledgeable in the area in which he works, which is digital information, and he was always friendly and helpful to me as we worked together.”
Kubic began his career at Southwestern nearly 45 years ago and he has seen a great change in the technology that surrounds libraries. While technology has changed, his calling to serve those who go out among the nations for Kingdom advancement has not changed. Kubic serves Southwestern Seminary faithfully and said he will continue to do so “until God calls me to stop.”